The coming year may be more successful for the Hungarian steel market than 2025. Hungary is weathering the pan-European economic crisis much more severely than other EU members. Since 2022, the country has not received any money from European budget funds due to the official position of Budapest on a number of domestic political issues. While in Italy, Poland, and Romania, steel demand is significantly supported by EU funding for infrastructure projects, Hungary is deprived of this opportunity. The resumption of European funding remains unrealized potential for the expansion of the Hungarian steel market. Hopes for improved steel sales in 2026 are linked to the restoration of funding for development programs by Viktor Orbán’s government and foreign investment in industry. The example of Hungary shows that the state can stimulate steel consumption even...

In December, deliveries increased by 3.5% y/y, with the annual volume exceeding 90.9 million short tons Shipments of steel products from US steel mills in 2025 increased by 4.9% compared to 2024, reaching 90.95 million short tons, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI). In December 2025, US steel companies shipped 7.45 million tons of steel, which is 3.5% more than in December 2024 (7.21 million tons). On a monthly basis, the figure increased by 5.4% compared to November 2025, when shipments amounted to 7.07 million tons. Overall, shipments in 2025 exceeded the 2024 level (86.70 million tons) by almost 4.25 million tons, indicating a gradual recovery in domestic demand and increased steel consumption in key sectors of the economy. The structure of shipments by product type shows uneven dynamics. Compared to 2024, shipments of corrosion-...

Imports of these products amounted to 1.52 million tons In 2025, China reduced its stainless steel exports by 0.3% – to 5.03 million tons. This is evidenced by data from Chinese customs authorities, according to Steel Orbis. Imports of this product amounted to 1.52 million tons at the end of last year, which is 19% less on an annualized basis. In December 2025, China exported 485,000 tons of stainless steel (+4.2% y/y and 19.7% m/m). The December surge occurred ahead of the introduction of an export licensing system for all steel products on January 1, 2026. Stainless steel imports in the last month of 2025 amounted to 145,000 tons (+1.9% y/y and 29.3% m/m). Imports of stainless steel scrap to the country amounted to 120,100 tons last year, which is 23.5% more than in 2024. In December, these volumes amounted to 11,800 tons, increasing by 20.6% year-on-y...